A Follow-up Study of Dropouts from a Methadone Maintenance Program

Abstract

A follow-up study of 112 dropouts from 1 of the largest methadone maintenance programs in New York City [New York, USA] was conducted. Of the sample, 47% were on methadone at other programs at the time of the follow-up interviews, 26% were drug-free, 16% were using drugs, and 11% were in institutions. Because of certain sample biases, inferences to the total population of dropouts were made through weighted estimates. A more accurate, although approximated, percentage distribution of the outcomes is that 20% of all dropouts were on methadone at other programs, 43% were drug-free, 23% were using heroin again, and 14% were in institutions. Some of the implications of these findings were discussed.